CIVILITY - coming October 2026
CIVILITY - coming October 2026
Civility has been written to give councillors, mayors, CEOs, and council staff a practical framework for leading well under pressure.
Leaders in local government are given governance training and legal briefings but never trained for the psychological reality of holding public office under sustained pressure. This book fixes that.
Anne-Marie Cade writes from a rare vantage point - she is an award-winning Lawyer and Mediator, a Churchill Fellow and has also served as Councillor, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor at the City of Glen Eira for over six years. She has sat inside the council chamber and experienced the hard conversations and the hostility and she has spent decades helping individuals, families and institutions navigate high-conflict environments professionally.
This book brings those worlds together into one practical framework.
The CIVILITY Framework
At the heart of the book is the CIVILITY Framework which she has developed. It’s a practical leadership model built for the realities of local government. Each element addresses a core capability leaders need to govern well under pressure.
C — Calm Maintaining composure under pressure, with the discipline to regulate emotion and lead with curiosity rather than reactivity.
I — Integrity in action Building trust through consistent, ethical, and transparent conduct
V — Values-based leadership Anchoring decisions in shared values, so disagreement stays grounded in purpose rather than personality.
I — Intelligence in conflict Recognising conflict patterns early and responding with strategy rather than reaction.
L — Listening to understand Deep listening that de-escalates tension and builds genuine connection rather than listening only to prepare a rebuttal.
I — Inclusive dialogue Ensuring diverse voices are heard and respected, so debate strengthens decisions rather than narrowing them.
T — Tools for de-escalation Practical techniques for the high-pressure moments in the chamber, in the media spotlight and in the room afterwards.
Y — Your leadership legacy Modelling the behaviour that shapes the culture you leave behind, long after your term in office ends.